Stanford football: Report from the first spring practice

The first Stanford football practice under David Shaw looked a lot like the Stanford football practices under Jim Harbaugh, right down to the head coach’s father roaming the field.

“It felt normal,’’ said Shaw, the former Stanford player and assistant who was named head coach Jan. 13. “I know the guys. I know the university. I understand the team. I know where we can improve and where we are strong.’’

Shaw led the Cardinal through a 2.5-hour workout Monday afternoon – the first of 15 spring practices that culminate April 9 with the Cardinal and White scrimmage in San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium.

Stanford mixed position drills with some light scrimmaging, which provided an early look at the revamped offensive line: right tackle Tyler Mabry, right guard David DeCastro, center Khalil Wilkes, left guard Kevin Danser and left tackle Jonathan Martin.

(DeCastro and Martin are the only returning starters.)

“They got in and out of their drills, they got a lot done and had a lot of disciple,’’ said Shaw’s father, Willie, the former Stanford and Oakland Raiders assistant who filled the father-watching-practice role previously held by Jack Harbaugh.

“You can tell coach Shaw is trying to put his own stamp on things,’’ defensive back Michael Thomas said.

“It was at a high tempo, and he was really coaching us. But it didn’t feel like it dragged on for three hours. He made his points and got in and out quickly.’’

Shaw’s main point: “It was a good practice, but I told the guys we weren’t out here to be good.’’

(bullet) Tailback Jeremy Stewart has been granted a medical redshirt and will be available for the 2011 season.

Stewart, who rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown in the Orange Bowl, played in just four games in 2009 (((cq))), allowing him to qualify for a fifth season.

(bullet) Shaw said former cornerback Corey Gatewood will play receiver exclusively and that tailback Usua Amanam will “do a lot of different things.” Look for the former Bellarmine Prep star to practice with the defensive backs, kick returners and tailbacks.

(bullet) Several players did not practice, including backup tailback Tyler Gaffney (baseball) and receiver Chris Owusu and safety Delano Howell, who are recovering from undisclosed injuries.

Shaw did not express concern about either player’s long-term availability and said the Cardinal was simply being precautionary.

(bullet) Quarterback Andrew Luck was not available for comment.

The core of what you’re about to read was written Monday night, following practice, and appeared in Tuesday’s Merc. I’ve added a few thoughts that didn’t appear in the original.

We’ll start with the main item, followed by some notes …

*** The first Stanford football practice under David Shaw looked a lot like the Stanford football practices under Jim Harbaugh, right down to the head coach’s father roaming the field.

“It felt normal,’’ said Shaw, the former Stanford player and assistant who was named head coach Jan. 13.

“I know the guys. I know the university. I understand the team. I know where we can improve and where we are strong.’’

Shaw led the Cardinal through a 2.5-hour workout Monday afternoon – the first of 15 spring practices that culminate April 9 with the Cardinal and White scrimmage in San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium.

Stanford mixed position drills with some light scrimmaging, which provided an early look — emphasis on early — at the revamped offensive line:

Right tackle Tyler Mabry, right guard David DeCastro, center Khalil Wilkes, left guard Kevin Danser and left tackle Jonathan Martin.

(DeCastro and Martin are the unit’s only returning starters and the only players assured of starting the season opener, injuries not withstanding.)

“They got in and out of their drills, they got a lot done and had a lot of discipliNe,’’ said Shaw’s father, Willie, the former Stanford and Oakland Raiders assistant who filled the father-watching-practice role previously held by Jack Harbaugh.

“You can tell coach Shaw is trying to put his own stamp on things,’’ defensive back Michael Thomas said.

“It was at a high tempo, and he was really coaching us. But it didn’t feel like it dragged on for three hours. He made his points and got in and out quickly.’’

Shaw’s main point: “It was a good practice, but I told the guys we weren’t out here to be good.’’

*** Tailback Jeremy Stewart has been granted a medical redshirt and will be available for the 2011 season.

Stewart, who rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown in the Orange Bowl, played in just four games in 2009, allowing him to qualify for a fifth season.

Add Stewart to a unit that includes 1,100-yard rusher Stepfan Taylor, powerful junior Tyler Gaffney and promising sophomore Anthony Wilkerson, and the Cardinal is deep at tailback — so deep, in fact, that Usua Amanam will get a look at other positions, including cornerback.

*** Several players did not practice, including Gaffney, who was with the baseball team.

Receiver Chris Owusu and safety Delano Howell are recovering from undosclosed injuries and did not participate — Howell did some conditioning drills, Owusu was nowhere to be seen.

Shaw said, in both cases, that Stanford wanted to be cautious … that neither player had anything to prove and there’s no reason to jeopardize their availability in the fall by rushing them back for the spring.

(It’s probably safe to assume that Owusu had offseason knee surgery. I say that because 1) Shaw acknowledged that Owusu had surgery, although he wouldn’t get specific, and 2) Owusu had a knee injury last season.)

*** Tight end Levine Toilolo didn’t practice, which is no surprise considering the seriousness of the knee injury he suffered last season.

I asked Shaw if Toilolo would take part in any contact drills this spring. “Maybe at some point, but we’re going to be cautious,” he said.

*** Shaw said former cornerback Corey Gatewood will play receiver exclusively next fall.

Given that Stanford lost Ryan Whalen and Doug Baldwin .. and that Owusu appears injury prone … and that Drew Terrell and Jamal-Rashad Patterson haven’t produced … Stanford could use whatever contributions Gatewood provides.

*** Quarterback Andrew Luck was not available for comment. He’s scheduled to sit down with local media on Friday.

*** The Feb. 27 (2 p.m.) and March 5 (10 a.m.) workouts are open to the public.

Jon Wilner

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This is BASKETBALL time ! Who cares about Stanford football now?
How about Cal’s (Guttierez’s) gut win? How about Cal’s athletic insolvency? How about Washington’s ( and WSU’s) meltdown? How about USC sweeping the Bay? How about Steve Fisher’s team, a reborn Michigan? How about anything other than Stanford football–who cares?

Coach Jim Harbaugh

Good show Coach Shaw!

TrueSpartan

Who cares!

Mr. Wilner,
With all due respect, you do work for the San Jose Mercury News and not for the Palo Alto Weekly. If it is not too much to ask, would you mind writing about San Jose State University?

Thank you.

Stanford Matt

Great coverage JW! Even if it is only February, Stanford football is still the most newsworthy sports topic in the Bay Area.

Interesting to see Amanam make the move to CB. Even with the logjam at RB, I thought he brought a different element to the running game from the rest of the group but we can definitely use the help at corner, too.

I haven’t heard anything about Keiser rethinking his decision to declare for the draft early but does anyone know what the rules on this are? If a player initially declares early but doesn’t sign with an agent are they able to change their mind later? In Keiser’s case, he didn’t receive an invite to the combine and it’s easy to see him going undrafted.

Calfan

Y’all don’t get it. JW’s is a Stanfurd beat writer, so you’ll get turd news here most of the time. As for SJSU, Cal, Santa Clara, etc.? They get mention here whenever it’s a slow day for the furd, the SEC and the B-East.

StanTheMan

It should be noted on the OL that the three new guys ALL had significant playing time last season. These aren’t three guys “coming off the bench” – they were all part of the rotation. This ain’t their first rodeo.

WR concerns me because Owusu isn’t healthy yet. Hopefully we’ll get some updates over the summer. He’s such a playmaker, and it’s the one position where Stanford is thin this year.

Leftcoast

I always glad to see the coverage of Spring practice ….. and in this case Stanford’s progress on filling two question marks (O-Line and Receiver).

What’s with the begrudgers? Jon’s already said he’ll cover the other schools too so stop the whining.

Leftcoast

Oh, one more thought. Was Willie Shaw talking about DISCIPLES or DISCIPLINE? The later seems more likely.

E

Thanks for the coverage Jon, it’s nice to have football back so quickly!

Do you know if there are any other changes from guys at running back? The other player I was thinking of was Ricky Seale, who was brought in I think as a RB last year but had played CB in high school as well. He red-shirted last year, but I haven’t heard anything about whether he’ll join the glut of RBs, or move to the defensive side of the ball.

Eugenean

@szabo2

Who cares about Stanford football? EVERYONE. They’re a contender for the Pac12 title and they have the best QB in college football. As Coach Jim Harbaugh says, basketball is for wusses. Go Ducks! Three time Pac champs if we win at the farm.

Papa John

Thanks for the update, JW. It’s too bad that Coach Shaw is taking after his predecessor in terms of secrecy regarding injuries, but all will be forgiven if he can keep the program on track.

I, too, am concerned about the receiver position. Assuming that Owusu is not able to make it through the 2011 season unscathed, who is the most likely candidate to step up, a la Doug Baldwin in 2010?

Kevin

What’s with Shaw’s secrecy about injuries it’s not even the season so how would giving injury reports give another team an advantage

TrueTrojan

@ Eugenean,
Not so quick. I think you are forgetting about USC. By the way, I do know and understand that USC is currently in probation.

GO TROJANS! GO SPARTANS!

TrueTrojan AKA TrueSpartan.

FUSC

Why would anyone care about San Jose State? It’s a terrible school with terrible academics and terrible athletics…

Coach Jim Harbaugh

Secret practices are not only the norm but necessary in the modern world of cellphone video cameras. I’m proud to have laid that ground work at Stanford University. Other great men like Nixon, Cheney, Weinberger, Schultz and Condolezza have always prized secrecy. It’s part of what made America great! Now drop and give me 40!

- Coach Jim Harbaugh

rioryon

Hey Papa John #11, don’t worry, S is as deep as a deep pan pizza at ALL positions this year, even the significant OL’s losses have very capable, potential replacements, big, determined, experienced run-blocking talent plus a nice blend of solid future-star-like union men, tunnelers, road graders and pocket defenders from among the following: Kevin Danser, Cameron Fleming. Cole Underwood, David Yankey, Tyler Maybry, Kahlil Wilkes, Matt Bentler, Sam Schwartzstein, and others.
Based on everything i’ve read so far, the only serious concerns i have about next season are overall championship-type chemistry/team cohesion, plus Shaw’s (and new staff) game plan and game day decision-making… which are unknowns til there’s a tough, close, hard fought game… — Being outside the lockerroom ya just can’t tell, even inside ya can’t always tell, especially when there’s been a coaching (HC, DC, OC, OL, LB) shake-up of such magnitude…
Anyways, at receiver i read that Griff Whalen had an excellent, elusive, zone-type-receiver spring session; they’re bringing Owusu (horizontal deep threat) and Toilolo (6’8″ for vertical stretch) back slowly… but the word is they should be ready… and if not, there is Gorey Gatewood who’s trying receiver because the quality depth at DB is actually deeper than your pizzas – imagine that !!!… and of course there are several promising young freshmen, RS Fr, and 1yr WRs like Drew Terrell, Jemari Roberts, Jamal-Rashid Patterson, Keanu Nelson, Ty Montgomery, Devon Cajuste-(6’4″, 215lbs, listed as TE but is prolly not)…. AND if that’s not enough for you, there’s the returning tight end/receiver hybrids including Ertz, Fleener, W. Rueland whom are incredibly versatile and can carve up a very talented secondary as we all saw in the OB….